Last April, my entire life changed in a split second when my car was totaled in a car accident outside my friend’s driveway. The stress that followed wasn’t just about insurance policies and medical bills, but the realization that without a car, I no longer had a way to move through daily life. Getting to work, visiting friends, or attending the art residency I had at the time became nearly impossible.
In many parts of the country, losing a car might mean relying more on public buses, subways, or commuter trains. However, in the Rio Grande Valley, it often means isolation. Here, cars are virtually the only mode of reliable transportation. For our communities, which stretch between four counties and take around two hours to drive end to end, that reality isn’t just inconvenient, it’s unsustainable.
The RGV is a Transportation Desert
Every day, thousands of Valley residents make long commutes across county lines. Teachers, nurses, construction workers, and students spend hours on the road to get where they need to go. It’s not uncommon for someone in Brownsville to work in McAllen or vice versa. Yet, despite how common these trips are, there’s no reliable public transportation connecting one county to another.
Larger cities like McAllen or Brownsville have a bus system that takes residents within city limits. Still, smaller rural communities like Rio Grande City, where I live, are often left behind. Walking isn’t a safe alternative in many parts of the RGV. For one, the temperatures outside are increasingly unbearable, sidewalks are nonexistent, crosswalks are rare, and new developments prioritize cars over pedestrians.
That leaves residents with very few alternatives to get around. And when disasters strike, like a car accident or the floods we had in March that left many without a vehicle, this lack of alternatives can easily become a crisis.
An Ideal Transit Vision for the RGV
Imagine being able to board a train or a rapid bus in Roma and ride to McAllen, Harlingen, or Brownsville without the stress of driving for hours. Imagine patients who can reach the specialists they need in a different county without depending on rides from relatives or having to schedule medical transportation days in advance. Imagine families saving money by leaving a second car at home, or workers spending their commute time reading, resting, or connecting with others instead of sitting in traffic.
Accessible and reliable public transportation would make our communities more connected and safer. When floods or storms damage vehicles, people wouldn’t be cut off from essential services. When gas prices spike, families wouldn’t have to choose between filling the tank and buying groceries.
There are small sparks of progress. Valley Metro, for example, wants to establish Microtransit systems in rural communities. This would connect with neighboring cities to help residents access grocery stores or medical services that might not be available where they live. In June, Valley Metro and El Metro launched the Zapata Express route, connecting Zapata, Rio Grande City and Laredo. It serves students commuting to Texas A&M International University as well as residents needing to access healthcare and shopping.
Another example of a local and successful transportation model is UTRGV’s Vaquero Express: a shuttle system that transports students across campuses. It includes trips to Edinburg, Weslaco, Harlingen, Brownsville, and even Rio Grande City. If a single institution can make it work, why can’t the entire region?
Local leaders have also revisited the idea of creating a Regional Transit Authority that could coordinate and expand transit across the Valley, similar to what exists in Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Laredo. Plans like this have been discussed for years, but they’ve never fully taken shape. Now, with the Valley’s population growing rapidly and our roads more congested than ever, the need is urgent. What’s missing is the investment and political will to take this further.
Building A More Connected and Accessible RGV
When I lost my car in April, I felt like I lost my freedom, and I know I’m not alone. The RGV is full of people who are just one accident, one flood, or one broken engine away from being stranded. Our community is growing, but without a real public transportation system, too many of us are left behind. Workers without cars lose jobs. Students without rides miss out on education. Families who lose vehicles to accidents or floods are left stranded.
The burden falls heaviest on those who can least afford it. Low-income families spend enormous portions of their budgets on car payments, gas, and repairs. Elderly residents who can no longer drive are cut off from community life. People with disabilities face barriers to accessing basic services.
At its core, this isn’t just a transportation problem; it’s about accessibility and equity. A strong public transit system wouldn’t just move people from one place to another; it would expand opportunity, strengthen our local economy, and provide a safety net when life throws challenges our way. That’s a future our communities deserve.
